Random reflections on creativity

Monday, December 31, 2012

Well, Christmas is over and after more hours in airports and cars than I wish to count, we are home again. I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas, surrounded by family and friends. Our whole family was together this year, which seems to be more rare as time passes, and we had a wonderful time. What a blessing to be able to enjoy the holidays with those we love.

Now that the presents have been opened, I can show you the project that pretty much consumed all of December.

Twelve more swoon blocks to make a king size quilt/bedspread/comforter.

Have you made these blocks? Do you find they are really time-consuming? They seem to take me forever and I just can't seem to make them go any faster. They take me about an hour and a half to two hours each.

BD #1 and I have been waffling for 6 months because Lark is beautiful, but it's just so BUSY! I finally took all of my Lark blocks into my FQS one Friday night, pulled about 40 bolts of fabric, and made the workers help me choose combinations.

But I really like the quilt top, now that it's together. Even the blocks I didn't really like look great once they're all together.

Once the blocks were made, putting the top together was a piece of cake.

So now she's off to the fabulous Sarah to be quilted, back to my house to be bound, and then on to BD#1's bed, to take the place of the quilt I made her 5 or 6 years ago.

AND, I made HSTs from all the flying geese in these blocks, so I'm pretty sure there's another Lark quilt in my future. (And that may explain why these blocks took me so long,,,)

And now it's nearly midnight on New Year's Eve - I wish everyone a healthy, happy and quilty 2013!

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Hey there! Have y'all been as busy as I have lately? When December began, I was determined to blog more this month than I did in November. And I was off to a great start with the Sew Mama Sew giveaway and the receipt of some super awesome swappy gifts! And then I got into the Frantic Holiday Mode and all that went out the window.

But now I have the suitcases packed ready to leave tomorrow (and it's not even midnight!!!) and I thought I would stop by the blog and say "Merry Christmas" to everyone. I'll have some fun stuff coming in 2013. I'm planning a couple of tutorials....

One for the casserole carrier I made for Round 2 of the Modernista swap. And I've got a couple of other ideas for tutorials that I hope you will like. I also have received some new swappy gifts that I haven't shared because I just haven't had time to take photos of yet. And some WIP projects that I AM GOING TO FINISH come h*e*double*hockey*sticks or high water.

So I hope you will have a lovely Christmas with family and friends, and drop back by around New Year's for whatever the New Year brings.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

First of all, I want to thank everyone who visited my little blog during the SMS giveaway! I am amazed at the response. I had so many wonderful comments. And so many of you said such kind things about my projects. It really made my day. It took me awhile to choose a winner because I wanted to respond to everyone who commented. If I missed you, I'm sorry. I really tried, but yahoo has been giving me fits lately. Know that I really appreciate you. And those of you who decided to follow my quilting and crafting adventures, I hope that you find something fun or useful here as time goes on.

Several of you commented on my 1-hour tote tutorial. It really is my go-to bag pattern. I use it all the time. In fact, I've made 3 of them in the past week. It doesn't always take an hour, but never yet has it taken 2 hours, and that's a good thing. It's very versatile. The most recent ones I've made are the market bag version (without batting or quilting, and with a little velcro string so you can roll it up and tie it and put it in your purse.) Sometimes, I make them just a little smaller, so they are more like book bags. I still use the very first one I made almost every day. If you make one, please be sure and share a picture with me. I'd love to see it.

38. Elena, December 3, 2012 11:38 amGreat! I really like this other giveaway: http://classyquilts.blogspot.com.es/2012/12/sew-mama-sew-giveaway-day.html

Congratulations, Elena. I'm off to send you an email and package up your goodies.
Sadly, it appears that Elena is a no-reply blogger... I'm so sorry, but as per the original post, I will immediately choose a new winner. I'm heading back to see Mr. RNG...

Who chose

True Random Number Generator Min: 1 Max: 464Result:111

111. Katy December 3, 2012 4:23 PM

I've
not seen that many giveaways yet. So i went to have a look at your
2012 finishes. I really liked your Wizard of Oz quilt, but the biggest
smile came when I saw the photo of what had to be one of your smallest
projects - the Prince Charming needlebook. I love that fussy cutting!

Again, many thanks to everyone who entered. I wish I had a prize for each of you!

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Check out the cute bag I received from Yvette, a/k/a craftyozgirl. Yvette was my partner in the Modern She Made swap. I had mentioned several things I would really like to have, including a little bag that was big enough to stash my 7" embroidery hoop in. I am so excited by this bag. It is perfect.

I really love the raw edge applique triangle detail on the front of the bag, not to mention the hand embroidery. Embroidery makes me happy! =)

She put a nifty little pocket on the inside...

And made me a nifty little needlebook to go with it.

She decorated every page - so fun!

Thanks, Stephanie for the cute bag and all the goodies. They will be put to good use!

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

You may already know that one of my favorite swaps is the Pillow Talk Swap. The swappers in it are crazy talented. I am always a little intimidated when it's my turn to create. The other side of that coin is that I've received the most A-MA-ZING pillows in this swap. This one is no different. This beauty came to me from the very talented Stephanie a/k/a SeaSteph from Tennessee. It is lying flat because I don't have an extra pillow form - a fact that will have to be rectified very soon.

I love the star with the fussy cut flower in the center. And the way she used the colors for the flower for the points. So cool.

I love the borders within borders look. Fun!

And the back is so pretty. I never mess with the back very much, so this is a real treat.

I really love the pretty handmade card too (and I love how the colors coordinate!) Being a "retired" Stampin' Up! demonstrator, I can appreciate a lovely handmade card when I see one!

Monday, December 3, 2012

Today is the Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day again! I'm so excited. This is always one of the most fun times of the year. I love visiting other blogs and seeing what's going on. I have been introduced to some of my favorites through Giveaway Day. Thanks for visiting. I hope you will come back often.

Photo courtesy of Google images

To celebrate Giveaway Day, I'm giving away a Mama Said Sew jelly roll by the incredible Sweetwater. I love their designs. They always have such fun texty prints, among others, and Mama Said Sew is a fabulous collection. I have some other fun things to add to the package... a few zippers and a selection of buttons...

And even one of my One Hour FQ Totes - this one is market style, and made with DS Quilts FQs.

I will be glad to ship this little package to you, wherever you are.

What do you need to do to enter? Well, I'm really glad you asked. Just leave a comment
on this post and tell me about your favorite SMS giveaway on another blog so
I can go visit. Or, check out some of the other posts on this blog and tell me which post or project you like best.

If you're a long-time follower or become one today, you are eligible to enter a second time - just leave a second comment letting me know you follow me.

Per the SMS rules, the giveaway is open until 5 pm on Friday, December 7th. The winner will be chosen by Mr. Random Number Generator sometime
Friday evening or Saturday morning.

Be sure you leave an email address
so I can notify you if you win! No email address = invalid entry. If I don't have a way to contact you, the entry will be disqualified and I will choose another winner immediately.

Saturday, December 1, 2012

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted anything. Where does the time go? I mailed a bunch of swappy stuff on November 15, just in time to get the house ready for a welcome visit from HS for Thanksgiving. He was the only one of the clan who could come home this year, and it was wonderful to have him. Between the cleaning beforehand, enjoying his visit, cooking more food than a family our size could ever eat, watching football, our traditional Thanksgiving night viewing of White Christmas, Black Friday, a shopping outing Saturday, and a date with HS on Monday, there didn't seem to be much time for much else.

Not to mention the fact that it is D*A*R*K by the time I get home from work now. It makes it frustrating to take pictures. (And although I went out today about 3:30, these seem a little dark to me even then. Oh well, it is December, I guess...)

Meanwhile, the postman (actually we have a lady postman at our house now) kept dropping off wonderful little packages. This adorable little guy was from Whitney (the Peacock Tree) in the FLiPS swap. Isn't he cute? I really love his little heart lips! And look at all the other fun goodies she included. Whitney and I have swapped several times now, and she says she's coming to within 30 miles of Pensacola next summer. I'm hoping for a meet-up.

He has such a fun little fishy face. I really love him. He will be perfect for a little spot on my sewing machine where none of my other pinnies fit. I know I'll put him to good use.

Thanks, Whitney, for such a fun addition to my sewing space!

There are a lot more fun little packages to share, so stay tuned... Since most of what I'm working on now is for Christmas, I'm going to share them one at a time.

Quotes worth thinking about...

"Don't be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight.... Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love Life."

~Gordon B. Hinckley

About Me

Wife, Mother, Grandma, Sister, Friend. {Recently} retired banker; quilter, sewist, crafter, lover of all things bright and beautiful in real life, and owner of the blog prsd4tim2 - so named because I always seem to be "too pressed for time."